Image above, Slice Couch by Pierre Charpin for 2016 re-edition for Cinna (1998).

Once again Paris is the place to be in the new year with the first MAISON&OBJET (M&O) exhibition taking place on Friday 20 to Tuesday 24 of January 2017. With a plethora of exhibitors on show, designers and architects have the opportunity to source furniture, products and objects that are not seen elsewhere, while also taking time to enjoy the very enjoyable French style of the exhibition.

MAISON&OBJET is held at Paris Nord Villepinte on the northern edge of Paris and the eight halls that make up the exhibition centre showcase a variety of products for the home. Architecture and design are particularly catered for in two of the halls and the offering is always beautifully curated to interest a discerning clientele. As a visitor, one of the advantages of browsing through M&O’s fair is that products are available for immediate sale; there is no waiting to receive ordered goods.

Also included at the exhibition is a seminar series that covers all areas of design with a stellar line-up of world-class speakers that also includes the M&O Designer of the Year.

Pierre Charpin, photo by Morgane Le Gall.

M&O has been in operation for 20 years and as such there is a program for the biannual exhibitions that becomes the framework. For example, there is the formidable honour of Designer of the Year bestowed upon designers of note that have made an impact on the industry through their illustrious careers, and for January 2017, Pierre Charpin has received this prestigious accolade. Charpin is a man of immense talent who is an artist and designer par excellence. Throughout his multifaceted career he has designed a multiplicity of furniture and products and worked for such brands as Ligne Roset, Alessi, Craft Limoges, Wrong for Hay, Hermès Maison, Magis, Tectona and Zanotta among many others. Since the 1990s he has devoted himself to creating and designing furniture and objects that transcend the norm and reimagine form and function, receiving many awards and honours over the years. As M&O Designer of the Year he has again been recognised for his prodigious talent and the design community at January’s show will have the opportunity to enjoy this designer and his work.

PC Lamp by Wonrg.London, photo by Pierre Antoine.

The visual is everything at M&O and this January the colour blue is to be celebrated and savoured in every conceivable application. There will be a special focus on the colour and blue will be highlighted in furniture, fabrics, finishes and objets.

In order to help the visitor navigate the experience of the January exhibition, M&O has an app to download however available all year round is MOM or MAISON& OBJET AND MORE a new digital platform. The website can provide the user with information on the latest products, designers and architects and allows direct contact with key players in the sector. There is also a spotlight on curated selections of products by industry experts that highlights the latest products and current trends within the world of home décor, design and lifestyle.

Ignotus Nomen Bench by Galerie Kreo. Photo by Fabrice Gousset.

There is time to book the ticket and make plans to journey to Paris for the experience of a lifetime that combines design with a Parisian sensibility. M&O is synonymous with style and the January fair will be a fine reflection of this.

M&O is happy to extend an invitation for complimentary admission to the January fair to the first 10 people who contact promosalons@optusnet.com.au (the entrance fee is normally valued at 70 euro).

maison-objet.com/en